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Comparison of the analytical data of gums of Acacia macracantha, Acacia tortuosa and other Gummiferae

Abstract:

Acacia macracantha and Acacia tortuosa, Gummiferae species, located in Venezuela, produce a clear gum very soluble in water. Analytical data of those gums showed, as was reported for Acacia seyal, that galactose is the main component in contrast with gums from Acacia robusta, Acacia tortilis y Acacia gerrardii that show arabinosa as main component. There were also observed low content and absence of rhamnose in the Gummiferae gums. The unusual presence of xylose in Acacia tortuosa gum has not been reported for any Acacia gum. Aminoacid composition of the studied gums showed that hydroxyproline and serine are the major components as has been reported for others Gummiferae gums. On the other hand, the cationic composition of the ash from these gums showed calcium, sodium and magnesium as major components. The results published in this work are important to further studies about the proteinaceus material present in the gums, which may be involved in the emulsification activity of those Venezuelan gums.